Final answer:
In "Beowulf," the renaming of Grendel emphasizes the monster's strength and ferocity, setting the stage for a significant battle and underscoring the epic's themes of heroism and the struggle between good and evil.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the epic poem "Beowulf," the renaming of Grendel serves to highlight the monster's strength and ferocity. This renaming is not just a storytelling device but also a thematic element that underscores the poem's tone and the forthcoming conflict. It sets the stage for the significant battle between Beowulf and Grendel, emphasizing the heroic challenge Beowulf is about to face and the threat that Grendel poses to the community. For instance, instead of humanizing Grendel, which might have underscored his vulnerability (option a), or symbolizing a shift in tone (option c), or diminishing the battle's importance (option d), the renaming magnifies Grendel's monstrous qualities. Such emphasis supports the epic's larger themes of heroism and the struggle between good and evil.
Throughout the poem, this struggle is mirrored in the appearance of heroes and the actions they undertake, suggesting a discrepancy that affects the epic's warrior culture. The poem's structure, consisting of unanswered questions and meaningful word choices, serves to deepen the reader's understanding of the characters' internal conflicts and the broader societal implications of their actions. Therefore, the renaming of Grendel reinforces the poem's central themes and sets the stage for a climactic encounter that is as much about internal conflict as it is about external combat.